Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-01-06
COSTLY BUTTONS,

COSTLY BUTTONS.
They We're Worn Once Too Often by Gambler
6onzslO OF New Orleans.
From the New Orleans Times. Democrat.
In 1851, when New Orleans was
reached by fatboats, the cargoes OF
apples, hay, corn or meats were dis
posed OF as fast as purchasers could
be found, after which the crews looked
up the local sights, particularly the
'tiger." OF all the curiosities then to
be found there, they preferred, beyond
all dispute, the tiger. This popular
quadruped was to be seen nowhere in
more vigor or beauty of coat than in
the glided rooms ofthe Gonzalo Broth
ers. In his saloon Gonzalo was in
variabiy habited in a short jacket OF
green, closely fitting his rotund body.
Down the front was a row of very
large buttons madefrom Mexican doc
lars, the front faces of which
were so polished that they re-
fieeted light as mirrors. Shortly
after the MONDAY lunch had been
served in the front saloon on q cool
| Sunday a tall, Raunt fiat-boatman
sauntered in toward the tables where
little groups were watching with in
tense anxiety the turning up OF the
| cards by one OF the dealers. Thegame
was Mexico's favorite, monte, and
large sums were scattered about the
| table. The newcomer was at once
recognized by many of those present,
who saluted him with "How are you
| Bowers"
Bowers nodded pleasantly to the
right and lett, and took a seat at one
OF the tables where Gonzalo was pre-
siding. The visitor was man who
would be conspicuous in any crowd.
A quick eye, long, somewhat hooked
nose, face bronzed by exposure, and
a thin, attenuated black mustache
gave him the appearance of either a
| frontiersman or veteran circus man
ager He watched the game closely
| for some time, when his eye fell upon
the large silver buttons on Gonzalo' s
coat. These seemed to hold his gaze,
| for, without removing his scrutiny,
he moved his chair directly opposite
the little Mexican. In a few minutes
a smile overspread his features, and
| he got up and went to the bar for a
drink. Wiping his moustache on a
big yellow bandana handkerchief, he
stepped behind the table and whis-
pered something in the Mexican's ear.
The little proprietor bowed gracious
ly, saying loud enough for those around
him to hear:
Isl, senior, I play whatever game
you like" They both withdrew to a
small ante-room in the rear, which
| was lighted by large glass skylight.
The smile of Bowers did not leave his
face. 1t seemed TO glow even more
radiantly when they sat down facing
each other, and when he took from
his pocket large purse filled with
gold it widened into almost laugh.
Ell you've no objections, pardner,"
said Bowers, with somewhat ola drawl
in his enunciation, "we'll make it old
sledge." At that time old sledge,
known later as seven up. was a favor
lite American game, and its popularity
| had penetrated even the wild woods
of the extreme west.
"Eet maker not de slight diferans
for me what game eetis, ;" replied the
| dapper GonZalo, as he took new
pack of cards from the hands OF a
| servant.
"All right, then, old boy; old sledge
| it is, and we'll make it for $50 a
game" and Bowers laid his black felt
hat on the floor.
The game commenced, and at first
| Bowers lost. This, however, did not
disturb his eQuanimity in the least.
He chewed at the end of his
cigar, as was his habit, ran his hand
through his long, black hair, played
with large steel ring that adorned
his lett little finger, and still smiled
A few oilers drifted back to where
ohey were playing, but the two an
tagonists were so quiet that they lost
| interest and went back to more en-
livening games.
Bowers after some time began TO
win. At first every second game; then
two out OF every three. The Mexican
sent for another pack OF cards, as he
said, ''to change de luck. After
| Bowers had examined them critically
he accepted them as 'fair and square
| pasteboards."
The tiatboatman did not move one
inch in his chair. He seemed as rigid
as if carved of stone. Facing his op-
ponent, he kept his eye fixed on the
handsome green jacket of the pro.
prietor and the silver buttons. They
appeared to have somefascination for
the rough river man. Gonzalo sat
listlessly in seat, evidencing but lit
tie interest in the game. His cards he
held low, as his hand rested on the
| table.
At 3 O'Clock in the afternoon Bow
ers was 81 800 ahead, and that Next
can had awakened to decided inter-
est in the game. He proposed to in
crease the bet to 500 on each game,
which offer was promptly adopted.
| The other tables had become deserted
now, and there was crowd gathered
about the two players. Side bets
We're offered on each game by the spec
tators, and the excitement was grow
ing intense.
Bowers paid no heed to those
around him. He had come, he said,
ito get all the honey out of the gum
tree, and he was a-goin' to do it,"
At $3.50 O'Clock he had won 50, 600,
and at 4 O'Clock, when he called for a
drink, he was 81, ZOO in gold ahead.
Gonzalo was somewhat pale, but
there vas not atremorin his hand. He
explained that they had reached near
ly the limits of his pile, but would
play two more hands for $500 each.
Bowers won both. The Mexican rose
from the table and shocks hands with
his antagonist, and both adjourned
| to take a glass of wine together.
Bowers received the admiring chances
OF the crowd as he strolled leisurely
out OF the saloon, still chewing his
cigar.
The game was the talk of the town
for number of days, and Gonzalo
was leased considerably about it by
his comrades. All this seemed as moth.
ing however, when hereceived anote.
written in bold, scraggy hand, saw
ing: "Pardner: Els too good to
keep, so I'll tell ct to you. When you
play with gringo take off that ar
green coat and silver buttons. | seen
every hand you held rite in one of
those buttons, like looking inter n
looklng-glass. Much 'bliged for the
cash, all the same. Yous till death,
Bowers"